This work is written by Xiaoyifei Wang, Nov. 2023. A colleague on the same project.

This work is also part of a larger project to discover the causes of the diminish of Shanghai Dialect. The rest of the works are listed below:

• Language Planning and Policy
• Internal Migration
• Linguistic Feature and Language Barriers (This article)
• Economic
• Ideology

The diminishing use of the Shanghai dialect can be attributed, in part, to its distinctive linguistic features and the challenges associated with both learning and promoting it. Compared to other dialects, Shanghai dialect poses specific barriers, and its unique linguistic characteristics contribute significantly to its decline. The hurdles in learning this dialect impact the population's willingness to embrace and propagate it. This passage explores a comparison between Shanghai dialect and Cantonese, shedding light on the reasons behind their varying popularity.

Cantonese has gained widespread usage in contemporary contexts such as children's readings, TikTok videos, and various media platforms, highlighting its relevance and popularity. In stark contrast, the Shanghai dialect struggles to attain a similar level of popularity in the present day. The subsequent passage delves into the diverse aspects contributing to this disparity in popularity.

Delving into Shanghai's history from 1843 reveals a significant period of communication and interaction between native Shanghainese individuals and foreigners. This cultural exchange resulted in the assimilation of English loanwords into the Shanghai dialect. The introduction of these loanwords might have originated from perceived limitations in expressing certain concepts within the dialect, prompting foreigners to integrate borrowed terms. This infusion of loanwords adds a layer of complexity to the Shanghai dialect, shaping its linguistic landscape in unique ways (Liu, 2013).

In summary, the decline of the Shanghai dialect is a result of a combination of its unique linguistic features and the challenges inherent in the learning process. This linguistic distinctiveness not only presents obstacles to learning but also influences the population's hesitance to embrace and disseminate the dialect. The historical exchange between native Shanghainese and foreigners further plays a pivotal role in shaping the dialect's vocabulary, introducing additional intricacies that contribute to its linguistic evolution (Liu, 2013). This intricate interplay of linguistic features, challenges, and historical influences underscores the complex trajectory of the Shanghai dialect, elucidating the factors contributing to its diminishing usage in contemporary society.

Mastering the pronunciation of the Shanghai dialect presents formidable challenges, particularly owing to the distinct articulation of voiced sounds. This difficulty is not only experienced by non-locals within Shanghai but also extends to individuals from other regions of China and foreigners unfamiliar with Mandarin. The intricate nature of the varied voiced sounds makes articulation a complex task. Additionally, the initial consonants in the Shanghai dialect deviate significantly from those in Mandarin and several other dialects, retaining the original consonantal structure of the ancient Chinese language system (Xia, 2008). The preservation of these archaic initial consonants establishes the Shanghai dialect as unique, demanding learners to grapple with a phonetic system distinct to this regional variety.

The departure of the Shanghai dialect from traditional Chinese and Mandarin consonantal patterns introduces an added layer of complexity. This linguistic shift necessitates individuals to commit an entirely different set of consonants to memory (Qian, 2015). The unique phonetic characteristics amplify the difficulty in mastering the dialect, challenging learners, whether native Mandarin speakers or foreigners unfamiliar with the language, to navigate a distinct set of vocalizations. The nuanced pronunciation nuances in the Shanghai dialect further underscore its linguistic complexity, making it a formidable challenge for those aiming to comprehend and articulate this regional variety effectively.

Another phonetic intricacy in the Shanghai dialect involves changes in the pattern of breathing, distinguishing it from other dialects and languages. This distinction is closely tied to the quiet periods integral to speaking the dialect. When conversing in Shanghai dialect, these intentional pauses between sentences become necessary, presenting an additional layer of difficulty that non-native speakers find challenging to acclimate to (Meng, 2023).

The influence of Mandarin further contributes to the linguistic intricacies of the Shanghai dialect. When speaking in the Shanghai dialect, verbs and words can easily undergo changes due to the impact of Mandarin (Lu Wang, 2017). Moreover, a significant proportion of words in the Shanghai dialect differs entirely from Mandarin, requiring Mandarin speakers interested in learning the Shanghai dialect to approach it as an entirely new language system. This sets it apart from dialects like Beijing or Dongbei, where linguistic similarities may offer some degree of familiarity to Mandarin speakers (Song Jiang, 2012).

In essence, the pronunciation challenges of the Shanghai dialect are multi-faceted, encompassing distinct voiced sounds, deviations in initial consonants, and unique phonetic characteristics. The departure from traditional consonantal patterns adds layers of complexity, making the acquisition of this regional variety a demanding linguistic endeavor. The interplay of linguistic elements, coupled with the influence of Mandarin, emphasizes the need for learners to approach the Shanghai dialect as a distinct linguistic entity. As individuals navigate the intricate nuances of breathing patterns and intentional pauses, the Shanghai dialect stands out as a linguistic challenge that requires dedicated effort for effective comprehension and articulation.

The Shanghai dialect faces challenges in retention, partly due to oral complexities and notably, distinct grammatical differences from Mandarin. This grammatical variance contributes to a diminishing usage of the Shanghai dialect. Mandarin and Shanghai dialect exhibit separate grammatical structures, and these disparities play a pivotal role. One noteworthy dissimilarity lies in the use of auxiliary words in the Shanghai dialect to link sentences, a feature absent in Mandarin (Huang, 2023). The utilization of such auxiliary words presents a unique syntactical characteristic that sets the Shanghai dialect apart. This linguistic distinction not only poses oral challenges but also influences the overall decline of the dialect. The divergence in grammar not only complicates communication but also contributes to a linguistic shift towards Mandarin, further marginalizing the Shanghai dialect. As language evolves, the grammatical disparities become a significant factor in shaping the trajectory of the Shanghai dialect, influencing its prevalence and usage.

The historical context of Shanghai has left a lasting impact on the Shanghai dialect, particularly during the period when the city was under Japanese concession. This historical episode has led to intriguing linguistic connections, with the Shanghai dialect exhibiting a notable presence of words and pronunciations that bear resemblance to both Japanese and English. This linguistic convergence is exemplified by instances such as the word "gander" in English, which finds a parallel pronunciation in the Shanghai dialect as "gang-du" (Lu Wang, 2017). This cross-cultural linguistic influence can, however, introduce confusion for speakers of languages derived from the Shanghai dialect. The similarity in words but distinct pronunciation poses a challenge for those navigating languages rooted in this historical linguistic amalgamation. Consequently, this historical interplay has not only shaped the phonetics of the Shanghai dialect but also created a linguistic landscape where the same word may be encountered with varying pronunciations, adding an intriguing layer of complexity to communication in this linguistic sphere.

The Cantonese however, is more popular in modern days. There are more than more than 80 million Cantonese users all around the world. In today's society, the usage of Cantonese far surpasses that of Shanghainese, largely due to the extensive use of Cantonese in numerous film and music productions. (Luo, 2023)People from various ethnicities and countries can learn Cantonese while enjoying a wide array of artistic works completed in this dialect. Conversely, although there are artistic works completed in Shanghainese, such as traditional Shanghai operas (Huju) and some films like "Love Myth," their quantity is comparatively limited. In the year 2018 alone, there were 281 films screened in Hong Kong, predominantly featuring Cantonese, while there were no registered works completed in Shanghainese showcased in cinemas. This phenomenon vividly illustrates that, in terms of media promotion, Shanghainese significantly lags behind Cantonese.

The prevalence of Cantonese in film and music contributes to its widespread use and accessibility as an artistic medium. Its representation in a multitude of genres and cultural productions enhances its appeal, facilitating its adoption and learning by a diverse audience. Conversely, Shanghainese, though culturally significant, faces challenges in terms of visibility and representation in mainstream media, limiting its exposure and opportunities for widespread learning beyond the local context.

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